ULRIC KNIGHT
The scent of her magic still lingers on my skin.
Even after she's gone.
Even after she clutched that damn book to her chest like a shield and mumbled a goodbye in her soft voice that makes my heart flutter, before practically running out of the house.
The hallway is quiet now. The only sound is the ticking of the old clock near the stairwell and the low hum of something inside me I can't seem to switch off.
Her fire called to me.
It wasn't just a flare. It was a signal. Like her soul had reached for mine, not consciously, not intentionally....but instinctively. Desperately.
And I felt it.
I felt her panic before I saw her.
I felt her magic before she even knew she needed help.
And Goddess help me, I'd burn this entire realm to ash if it meant she'd never feel like that again.
I rub a hand over my face and drag in a slow breath.
My thoughts haven't been clear since the moment I first touched her skin.
...
Half an hour later, I step inside the library and close the heavy door behind me.
The familiar scent of old books, dust, and lavender polish hangs in the air. But beneath it all, her. That wild warmth I've started to crave like breath.
The front desk sits just a few paces ahead, where Maria, my mother, is doing what she does best. Appearing like she's reading while fully aware of everything around her.
She doesn't look up right away, but I know she senses me.
"Thought I felt a storm roll in." she says dryly, flipping a page without glancing up.
I exhale a quiet breath. "hello, Mother."
" Hello my dear." Now she looks up. Her sharp brown eyes scan my face like she's reading a very familiar book, and finding new annotations.
She marks the page with a ribbon and shuts the massive tome gently.
"Library's still standing. Aelia's still upstairs. I assume that's why you're here."
I offer a slight nod. " And to do my work." I smile pointing up to my office.
"She's been quiet since she got back," Maria continues ignoring my words, standing.
I don't respond. I'm already looking past her, searching.
And then I see her.
Up on the mezzanine, kneeling beside a rolling cart, one hand cradling a book, the other lifting to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. She hasn't noticed me yet.
But the moment stretches, holds, and then....she does.
Her eyes flick to mine. Just one glance. But it hits me like thunder in still air.
She looks at me like she's unsure of herself. Unsure of me. Then, just as quickly, she looks away. Not rudely. Not coldly. Just… carefully.
Like the space between us is suddenly too much to carry.
I start toward the stairs. Mother doesn't stop me, but her voice follows.
"She's not afraid of you, Ulric," she says, gentler now.
I pause, glancing sideways.
"Be kind to her."
"She's my Mate. I'll always be kind to mine."
I'd rather drown myself in the darks of the deep sea then disrespect her in any way.
"I know dear, goddess bless your precious bond." she says with a sweet smile.
I nod in appreciation to her kind words and continue up the stairs.
I step into my office, the top floor of the library building. My hands get buried in paperwork, but my mind isn't here.
A knock echoes once on the door before it swings open.
"Still brooding?" Hayden asks without looking up, closing the door behind him with a flick of his boot.
"Just keeping the town from falling apart." I mutter dryly.
He walks across the room and flops down on the leather chair opposite me like he owns it.
"Let me guess, she finally talked to you, and now you're spiraling." I can tell this moron is smirking without needing to look up.
I shoot him a glare.
He grins. "Called it."
"She didn't tell me anything," I mutter. "Not anything real."
He raises an eyebrow. "But she said something."
I lean back in my chair, eyes flicking to the window. The town below looks peaceful, but I know better.
"She said she's not scared of me," I say. "She's scared of not being enough."
Hayden whistles low. "Damn."
"Yeah." I exhale softly.
"You know what that means, right?"
I look at him.
"She thinks you'll leave," he says. "Or worse... reject her."
The word tastes like acid in my mouth.
"I would never," I say, and I mean it more than I've meant anything in my life.
"But she doesn't know that. Not yet."
I'm quiet for a beat. Then I say, "She's holding something back."
Hayden doesn't respond right away.
"She's not just part-wolf," I add.
"Magic?" he asks.
I nod once. "Fire. Pure and strong. But ancient too. I felt it when she was losing control. It's… rare." Powers are common in this world but fire, died centuries ago...or believed it did.
"Do you think she's dangerous?" Hayden asks, and I shoot him a look so sharp he lifts both hands.
"Not dangerous," I say. "Untrained. Untrustful in herself and terrified of what she is."
He studies me for a long moment. Then, he leans forward and says, "So what are you gonna do about it?"
I answer without thinking. "I'm going to wait."
Hayden blinks. "Wait?" he echoes. "You?"
"She's not ready," I say. "Every instinct I have says to claim her, to lock the door, mark her, tie her soul to mine. But… if I push her now, she'll run. And if she runs, I'll tear the sky apart trying to keep her with me."
Hayden nods slowly, that rare serious look crossing his usually sarcastic face.
"She's worth that much, huh?"
"She's worth more. She's the Luna of this pack, and my Mate."
Another pause.
"She's fire," I say. "And I want her to choose to burn for me. Not because she's bound to....but because she wants to."
Hayden whistles again. "Damn. That's almost poetic."
I grunt and toss a file at his face. "Shut up."
He laughs, but I can tell it lands.
Because I've made up my mind.
I'll wait for her to trust me.
I'll wait for her to stop flinching when I get too close.
I'll wait for the moment she stops clutching books like shields and starts holding me like I'm home.
Even if it takes forever.
❦︎ To Be Continued ❦︎